Crossing family. If you're excited, you came to
church today. Let me hear a whoop-whoop.
Hi. I'm all right with that.
It's a cold one. Glad you're here.
I want to welcome all of our different locations.
Those of you watching online and inside speaking of which online
people. God bless you.
We've had some campus pastors reach out to me and say there
are some of you who started showing back up at our different
locations and you took what I had to say, and like the kind
pastoral tone it was designed and you didn't get angry and
become a keyboard. Warrior and God bless you.
I also want to welcome those of you here for the first time or
the first time in a long time and our hope and prayer today is
simple. That something about the
worship, the sermon, the interactions with people in the
lobby communion, would do something to draw you closer,
and your intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Before I get into the message, I do want to spend just a little
bit of time in prayer and this weekend.
I just want to pray for teachers, I don't know.
What your thoughts are in teachers?
You know, I think that they're awesome, you might think that
they have a really sweet gig and they get the Summers off and you
might, you know, being her like that and not no matter where
you're at on that Spectrum. I know that there are teachers
who are dealing with all kinds of hardship and all kinds of
heartbreak. I know that sometimes their
teachers and sometimes their guidance counselors sometimes,
their surrogate moms and dads and sometimes they're cool ants
and Any uncles and sometimes their big sisters and Big
Brothers, sometimes their trauma Specialists sometimes, sometimes
it's just really, really hard. And so, what I want to do is I
just want to spend a little bit of time lifting them up, and
then we'll jump into the message, heavenly father.
I just thank you so much for the love that you've poured out on
so many of us, and I'm also thankful for The desire you've
placed in some people's hearts to be teachers.
Some of them, they were the ones who taught us how to read and
how to write. And they're the ones who forced
us to focus and learn to pay attention and develop the
muscles of patients. Gather, the ones who at times
corrected us and we were going off the rails and brought us
back. They were the ones that
Oftentimes might even be the most pastoral person in our life
and got to know that they are dealing with all kinds of
challenges and expectations and sometimes if not all the time
dealing with limited resources. And so I just pray that you
would give them your spirit of Grace, and peace, and patience
God, that you would fill them up so that they could be poured
out. I know.
There are some of them who have probably already started to
circle the last day of school. Cool.
And they've already started the countdown but God, I pray that
you would equip them with A Renewed Energy, A Renewed
excitement that they would see the time between now and summer
break as a strategic opportunity to motivate and change and point
people to you through their example, you know my pray.
Amen. Well, just to recap, we are in a
sermon series called there has to be a place.
And the very first week we talked about there has to be a
place that makes Jesus last words.
It's our first priority. And if you're a Jesus follower,
you'll remember this, that Jesus right before he ascended into
heaven, he came and said, listen, all authority in heaven
on Earth has been given to me, therefore, go and make
disciples. And when we talk about
disciples, this is the spiritual Spectrum making disciples, you
just moving people from left to, right?
So there's people who need to start a relationship with Jesus,
and there's people that need to grow in their relationship with
Jesus. And we are job, is if Or a minus
three is to help you get to the -2.
And if you're a plus 3, we want to help move you to a plus 4.
And I want to say this just that way, it doesn't get confused and
you guys are saying stuff that I didn't say.
So I just want to be super clear.
God loves. Absolutely everybody on the
spiritual continuum. And our church loves everybody
on this spiritual Continuum and we will welcome every single
person on this spiritual Continuum.
I don't want you thinking that God will love you more.
If you move from a -2 to Y, -1 or he will love you more.
If you move from a plus 4, plus 3 2, A plus 4, Because if you
believe that then you'd be tempted to think that when
you're you know you go through a rough patch and you go from a
plus 4 to plus 3 that he would love you.
Less. So, how worse our movement?
This way is more about us, loving God, and being formed and
fashioned into his likeness. Then is about whether or not God
loves you, then we talked about there, has to be a place that
still believes that Jesus changes people, that this is not
something that just happened in the past, but that at any moment
time, you can have a genuine encounter with God and his
people, and it could change the trajectory of your life here on
Earth. Earth and in the life to come,
that Jesus still changes people that he makes people knew.
And then we said, there has to be a place that is committed to
using their god-given gifts to serve the Glorious mission of
Jesus that God has placed in every single one of us something
that we can leverage to accomplish his mission.
And then last week we talked about there has to be a place
that is committed to real Biblical community that we
cannot live the That God called us to alone.
And in isolation, why are we doing this super simple?
Because we want to make this region.
This one right here the hardest place on planet Earth to get to
Hell from. And today, what I want to talk
to you about is there has to be a place that joyously gives to
advance the mission. And there's some of you right
now who are going son of a gun. This is the week.
I brought my friend and of course this is the week we're
talking about giving I understand and there's Some of
you are going, man. We were just watching online and
now we show up for church. Does this guy just hate us?
No, no. Come here.
Okay, let me tell you the story. There's a guy by the name of
Chad Goucher, he is a pastor in Arizona.
In fact, Jerry just had the opportunity to preach at his
church. This past weekend at the
refinery and Chad Goucher tells this story, their church was in
a sermon series on giving and he like good pastors was out in the
lobby in between services and a new couple walked in the door.
The church and he had the same thought that you're thinking
which is oh my goodness of all the times for them to start
coming to our church. They're coming on this one and
their church was doing a series I'm just doing one sermon okay?
And so he's like all right he gets up preachers the sermon he
goes out the lobby season walk out he's like okay but next week
they show back up. Alright then the next week they
show back up next week, this show back out.
But then at the end of the sermon series, his assistant
puts it on his calendar that this couple.
Want to meet with him. He's like, I'll, well, here it
is. I mean, they showed up at our
church, four straight weeks, four straight weeks of giving
they're going. All this church cares about, you
know, you've heard it sits down. They can come in.
They sit down the first question out of their mouth.
Is this, do you believe that our old Pastor loved us?
He said, what do you mean? She goes.
Well, in light of everything that the Bible says about it and
all the blessings associated with it.
How could our old Pastor love us and not talk to us about it.
So I know that some of you you're going to have job
transfers and some of you, you know, you're going to, you know,
go to a different Church of different point at some time in
your life and I just don't want to put you in that situation.
I want to make sure that God's counsel is on Full display in
your life and in this these moments that we have with one
There. So, that way you don't have to
ever have to wonder does Clayton love me?
Because I do because here at the Crossing we believe that God's
way is the best play and this is in every area of your life, that
they're God's way is the best way.
That means when it comes to Salvation his way is the best
way when it comes to relationships.
Forgiveness pain. Worry anxiety Works sex rest and
yes even money. God's way is the Best way that
in when you look at your life you would go.
All right, I can do what I want to do or I can do what God calls
me to. And this is like the universal
belief of this church. That God's way is always better.
In fact, every single time. Well, not every single time
that's not the right way to say. Every week, there comes a point
where we call Landing the plane. I don't know if you guys know
that, that's what we call, what we call Landing the plane, like,
Jerry and I Circle the runway for a little while, then all of
a sudden were like we're moving to a time of decision.
And the landing gear comes out and but has put the tray tables
up. You guys have been there and
then campus pastors get up at their locations and they land
the plane. Well, when I land the plane
here, those of you watching a different campuses, you don't
hear me say this all that often but I'll make this statement to
our congregation. I'll be like, how many of you
how many of you would say that the very best decision that you
ever made was making Jesus Christ, the lord and savior of
your life. A lot of people raise their
hands and then I make this second statement, how many of
you would say that your biggest regret is that you You didn't do
it sooner and like, everybody keeps her hands up.
Like, there's not a whole lot of people like I think I wish I to
put it off. Like, there's very few people
like, well actually, I was getting ready to have a pretty
awesome party in Vegas and then I Found Jesus right before I
went. So I really wish I had found
Jesus after that Vegas trip because it would have been wild,
you know, really get some forgiveness.
Nobody nobody does that. And so we believe that God has a
plan and a purpose for your life and that our life will be best
if we live in accordance to it. And so, what I want to do with
you today Today is, I want to just talk to you about this, as
if you were over at Jennifer nice house sitting across the
kitchen, table from you and help you see this through Jennifer
and eyes life and experience. So, the way I kind of wrote,
this is why Jennifer and I give and this is not a comprehensive
list, but I figured you guys didn't like a three-hour sermon.
So, I just decided, I'll give you a seven.
So first reason why, Jennifer and I give is, I believe that
the Bible Teaches it. There are many times in the Old
Testament that reference and mention tithing.
Leviticus 27:30 says a tithe of everything from the land.
Whether grain from the soil or fruit, from the trees Belongs to
the Lord. It is Holy to the Lord.
Now, for those of you who are thinking, hey, this is only an
Old Testament promise. Let me invite you over to the
New Testament for a second. Matthew 23:23 says, woe to you
teachers of the The law and Pharisees you Hypocrites, you
give a tenth. That's the word tithe of your
spices mint dill and cumin. So these guys they go out into
their garden and they pluck all of there.
Mint and they're like one leaf for God.
Nine leaves for me one is the doesn't come and leaves.
I don't I don't that's not my area, okay?
They are they are going into okay look what she says, that's
what you're doing but you have neglected.
The more important matters of the law, Justice, mercy and
faithfulness, then check out what Jesus says.
You should have practiced, the latter, which is Justice, mercy
and faith. - are we say this word without neglecting the
former tithing. Now, tithing means tenth in the
Old Testament, it means 10%, it was not just 10%, it was the
first ten percent or the first fruits and they practiced giving
to God before they gave to anything else.
So if you were, you know, a cattle farmer and you had 10
pregnant cows, the very first baby cow, which is called a
calf, you like that belongs to the Lord and then the other nine
baby caps, those are yours to take care of your family and
navigate your business. If you were a cat farmer and
your cat had 10 cats. Nobody would care.
Right? Like, no.
But so here's how this works that you Give God your first
some of you guys are cat lovers and you're like fine with the
sermon on giving but the cat joke too far that is way too
far. They are fearfully and
wonderfully made. Nope, that's humans, okay?
So Jennifer Jennifer and I we here's what this looks like when
Jennifer and I have jobs, we work.
And when we work ten percent of whatever, we make comes back to
the church and it comes first. So if you know, if Jennifer now
Make a hundred dollars, ten dollars comes the church and $90
is ours, the very first 10th Belongs to the Lord when
Jennifer and I retire, whatever we put into our retirement
account. When we take money out of that
account, 10% will go to the church and we get 90% of it when
we get our Social Security checks, okay?
If those come ten percent of whatever is there whatever's
there, but belong to the Lord, when our parents go to, Be with
the Lord. And let's say, they, my parents
died, and they leave my siblings, you know, 5 grand and
Jennifer. And I 100 Grand like when that
happens. And when they do that and they,
let's say, leave 100 Grand. The first thing we are going to
do with that money is we're going to write a ten thousand
dollar check to the local church here at the Crossing.
And then we get to buy a boat with the 90.
Like, we can do something with the 90 is cool.
All right. If we had if we sold our house
for a profit, If we were not going to buy another house or if
we were, you know, we had a different house, we we wouldn't,
we wouldn't tithe to that because if we're rolling it into
another property, we're not, that's not an increase for us.
We're just moving into a different house.
But when we get out of houses and we're like we're not living
in houses anymore. 10% of whatever were worth that goes to
be with the Lord. If Jennifer not had side hustles
you know what I mean? Like if people were going
Clayton, would you help me pick out clothes every week like If
that was my side hustle and you called me up and you paid me
$100. And I came over and help you put
together really fly outfits. Okay.
Yeah. It's not much of a side hustle.
You like know. Okay.
So just so, you know, every single Thursday, I FaceTime my
wife to figure out what I'm allowed to wear in public and
for the sermon for the weekend. And I wear this on Thursday and
on Sunday. So that way, we don't burn
through too many outfits and I always go for.
I have these baby blue pants and this pink sweater.
You've never seen me in it because I keep Losing the battle
because I'm like, she's like, no you can't look like a fat Easter
egg, you gotta. So Earth Tones, it is.
Okay, so that's my business. I have a side hustle and she,
and are you guys pay me $100 to come over your house for to pick
out your clothes? Because you're blind person and
I pick out your clothes for you and you give me $100, 10% goes
to the local church and 90% of that is mine.
And when Jennifer and I go to be with the Lord, like one day, we
can't wait to Go to heaven but we're not trying to get there
any faster than God has in store for us.
When we go to be with the Lord, ten percent of what we have left
over, will go to be with the Lord and it's not just something
we do when we die, it's something we do while we live.
That's kind of his his plane for people.
And for us, Jennifer and I want one of the things that's a heavy
burden on. Our heart is, I've wanted to
start a an endowment here at the church.
So that way, when I go on that, the money that I leave behind,
And we'll do the work of the Lord, until the return of the
Lord without ever touching the principal, if Jennifer and I
were to win the lottery, right? And we were to win a billion
dollars and that would be helpful because Jennifer and I
have a long term given goal and I don't know how we're going to
get there without winning the lottery, but we don't play the
lottery. So God's gonna have to do some
cool work there, but if, if we were to get, you know, ten
percent would go to the Lord, that's what tithing looks.
Like, second reason. I believe that the early church
modeled it, that the people closest to Jesus, started to
live like this, and they go Way Beyond tithing.
They go into an area that I would call radical generosity.
Look what it says in Acts chapter 2, they devoted
themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship.
That's what we talked about last week to the breaking of bread
and to prayer. Everyone was filled in awe, at
The Many Wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the Believers were together and had everything In common,
they sold property and possessions to give to anyone
who had need every day. They continue to meet together
in the temple courts, they broke bread in their homes and ate
together with glad and sincere Hearts praising, God and
enjoying the favor of all the people and the Lord added to
their number daily, those who were being saved.
Some of you might be tempted to go.
Well, tithing Was An Old Testament thing under the law
than the Holy Spirit. Came down.
So we're kind of in a different operation or space now and I can
understand that argument, but here's where I would wrestle
with you a little bit. Is it appears to me that every
time Jesus is talking in the New Testament, he is raising the bar
Raising the bar over the law, like there's a way that we
people were supposed to behave under the law, but there's a
different way that people behave under grace.
It's Jesus, who says, hey, you've heard it said he's
talking about the law, you've heard it said, don't murder, but
I tell you. Anyone who is angry.
He raises the bar, you've heard. It said don't commit adultery,
you know, don't sleep with people that aren't your spouse.
But I tell you, if you look at anyone lustfully he raises the
bar. So if you're going to say, hey I
don't think that God wants us to tithe, okay?
That'd be fine. Then he I think you'd have to at
least admit then he's asking you to raise the bar.
Third reason. Why Jennifer and I give I
believe that my heart. Needs it.
My heart is prone to wander. My heart is prone to go selfish.
I mean I want to do things for God and I want to be a part of
the mission of God, but left unchecked, my heart will
eventually turn in on itself and look what happens in Matthew
chapter 6, do not store it for yourself.
Treasures on Earth, where moths and Vermin, destroy.
And where thieves break in and steal but store up for yourself.
Treasures in. In heaven, where moths and
Vermin. Do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is there.
Your heart will be also. Jesus knows something about you
and me. That our heart tends to follow
our treasure. So if you direct your treasure,
your heart will follow. That's why for Jennifer and, you
know, most of you probably don't need to do this, but for
Jennifer and I like, we have a, we try to deliberately direct
our heart. So like on top of tithing, what
Jennifer and I do is we have a bank account or a account at the
bank. It's called her generosity fund,
and we pick a percentage every year of our total income above
the tithe, that's going to go into the generosity fund.
So that way, when something comes up in the church or an
opportunity arises, we have Already pre-planned our
generosity because you know you've been there where someone
comes up and you're like, oh that's really good.
Wish I wish I could. But Jennifer I want to do is we
wanted to pre-plan to be able to be generous.
And part of the reason why we're doing that is we want an
opportunity to not only be generous but to direct our
heart. If I were to describe it this
way, there's giving this is when you just decide, you're going to
give an amount to God from time to time.
Okay, then there's tithing. This is where you decide.
You know what? I'm going to give 10%.
I'm going to do what God calls me to do then.
Generosity begins after the tithe is taking care of.
So if I want to be a generous person, I have to navigate
tithing first, so, I can become generous now.
That's why? When Camp scholarships come up?
Or when Jacksonville in your corner events, take place or
cool Ministry moments happen men.
You've been around where your wife just looks at you and she
just gives you the nod. Like you needed, you need to
handle that. But so that way, when those
things happen were already in a position to be able to help out.
The cool thing is, the tithe Belongs to the Lord, but our
offerings are generosity is something that we get to direct
and participate. In number four, reason why
Jennifer and I give I believe that my faith is strengthened by
it. Faith is a muscle that has to be
exercised and there is a big difference between first fruits
and Last fruits, first fruits is, I believe that I'm going to
give the 10% to God first. And that he's going to take care
of the rest. Last fruits is God.
I want to give to you but I got to navigate my Netflix and Hulu
first and then if there's something left over, I'm
definitely sending it your way. The problem is one is stepping
out in faith and one is a lack of faith.
Because you've been there before, oftentimes, if God's
last God doesn't get our best and God doesn't get what he
asked us to here's what I've noticed in my life.
That when I give to him first, he takes care of the rest.
God blesses. Obedience God does not bless
Disobedience. So if I want to put got well let
me just show you second Corinthians chapter 9.
Remember this whoever sews sparingly will also reap
sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap
generously, you have to so before you can have a Harvest.
We are each of you should give whatever you have decided in
your heart to give, you don't have to come up to me.
And ask me, it's what's in your heart?
Not reluctantly or under compulsion, why?
God loves a cheerful Giver. I'm excited to do this.
I'm excited to have my faith strengthened.
I'm excited to direct my heart. He loves a cheerful giver and
God is able to bless you abundantly.
So that in All things at all times, having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.
There's a pretty strong promise inside of this.
That if you trust God with your first fruits, he will take care
of you and that strengthens your faith.
I'm going to, I'm going to say this way.
I'm actually going to say in this point and the next Point
what you find out is Is people who are like, who are givers
they would, they would back me up on this that they would
believe this statement. That it is better.
To live on 90% with God in the equation, then to live on a
hundred percent with him out of the equation.
Second, there's another reason I believe that God blesses it
That's another reason why Jennifer?
And I give 2nd Corinthians says this.
Now, he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will
also Supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge
the Harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous
on every occasion. And through us, your generosity
will result in Giving to God Solomon.
Why does man ever born says this in Proverbs chapter 3 honor, the
Lord with your wealth with the base that word.
Yeah, it's a compound word but we got it first fruits of all
your crops then your barns will be filled to overflowing and
your Vats will brim over with new one.
Those of us who've trusted God in the area of tithing belief
that 90% with God is a better Financial strategy than 100%
without him. Reason number 6, why Jennifer?
And I give I believe that love. Requires it.
You can give without loving April 15th.
Right. You can give you can give
without, loving April 15th. Government puts a gun to your
head, says pay your taxes, and I know there are some of you out
there. Like, no, no, no man.
No, not me. I bleed, red white and blue.
Okay, come here. I mean, for all the people and
I'm a big American, got to love it and you've got, like, a big
flag in your at all that, but I've never heard this story.
Tell me, I'll tell you what. April 20th.
I was thinking, you know what honey?
We should have given more money in taxes this year.
I was at that sporting event, there's singing the national
anthem I was like we should have given like way more taxes this
year because I love this country so much never heard.
That story. I don't care how much of a
farmer you are and how much you love American soil.
There's a farmer looking out for a way to write off a pickup
truck so he doesn't have to pay taxes.
Okay, that I don't listen, listen, listen, listen.
Handle your taxes with all with Integrity With Honor but I've
just never met someone who's just looking to give the
government more. The government's never stopped
you. You can write a check for as
much as you wanted over your taxes.
It's when you write it for under, what you love that, they
got a problem. So as much as you love the
government, you're not trying to give it more But you'd be
hard-pressed to find a stingy grandma.
Right. Like stingy moms exist.
Exist, but not stingy Grandma's. I remember when Jennifer died
were raising Kennedy and she like asked for an iPad, we like,
no, we can't, we can't do that for you.
She's like, that's okay. I'll just call Grandma pay him.
It's like will tell Grandma paying there's a light bill that
needs page, so we can plug the iPad in which you write your,
just that shit. And when you win, you love, you
can't help. But give You can give without
loving, but you can't love without giving, you know this
verse, whether this is your first time, or your 100th time,
John 3:16 for God. So loved the world that he.
Yeah. You get it. you can't love and
not give and Jennifer and I We love this church and we love God
and the natural expression of Love is giving in light of a
blood-stained cross how could Jennifer and I do anything less,
we give to all sorts of things that we love.
We love our friends, we love our family, we love our kids, we
give to stores because we love to eat.
We give to other stores because I don't love being naked in
front of people. Like there's all kinds of things
that we love. Number 7.
I believe that people's lives are changed because of it.
That's the seventh reason why Jennifer and I give look what it
says in 2nd Corinthians chapter 9.
This service of giving that you perform.
It's not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but
it is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God
because of the service by which you have proved yourselves.
Others will praise God for The Obedience that accompanies your
Confession of the Gospel he saying you are putting your,
you're putting your money where your mouth is.
It is showing up that you believe God, you trust God and
you want to be obedient to God. And other people are going to
start thanking God for your obedience and for your
generosity in sharing with them, and with everyone else.
And in their prayers for you. Their hearts will go out to you
because of the surpassing grace. God has given you.
I cannot get over the amount of life change that happens every
single week at the Crossing. You would be a part time job,
just keeping up with all the stories and all of the emails.
And I know that in a church of our sizers people who are
thinking all kinds of things and I just want you to hear me say
this one. I can promise you that Jennifer
and I will always be first in on anything.
Do here at the Crossing whether it's giving during the weekend
service, whether it's participating in scholarships
for camp or whether it's being a part of an initiative, we want
to be in your corner with our generosity.
We want to be in your corner creating a space and going on
mission to help this be the hardest place on planet Earth to
get to Hell from. We want this for your friends
and we want this for your family.
We will be the first in. Also want you to know that
there's a whole other list. I could probably go to 25
reasons. Why Jennifer and I my live this
out in our life and why. So many people around us do the
same thing and I want to tell you this today, every single one
of you can take a step, you could start going by going.
You know what, I'm going to give for the very first time, or I'm
going to start giving regularly. Some of you are going to go, you
know, what? It's time for us to take a big
step in to actually start trusting God and honoring God
with the ties. Some of you might be interested
in going. You know what?
Tell me more about this Legacy project.
That sounds exciting. Others of you might be going,
you know what? We're going to start giving
Above the Tie, then we're going to set up our own generosity.
T fund. Here's what I know is that every
single time, somebody takes a step, we make this place this
region right here, just a little bit harder to get the help from,
and I hope you'll join me in that mission.
We're moving to a time of decision.
This stuff is tough because I know that right now there are
some of you who are going man, that was fantastic man.
Ambush, we talked about it more and there are others of you who
are going All this church cares about and that stuff breaks my
heart. That's actually the fear I have
when I preach on messages like this.
Because if it was just a bunch of Christians in here, like I
could say things that are just so true to the core of who I am
and how deeply I believe in what, I just talked to you
about, but to go, you know, full fully down that road.
I know that there be other people who are going really.
I mean, this is, Like I just brought my friend and I need you
to hear me say this, if you're brand-new to Faith and you've
never start a relationship with Jesus Christ, that is the stuff
that's in front of you. there's the first thing he wants you to
give to him, is you And the reason why the rest of us give
is to join God in this Mission, and to be obedient to him and
what he's called us to do and to make a space for you.
So, that way you can hear these words right now that you can
begin today, and intimate personal relationship with Jesus
Christ. So you could hear these words
for God, so loved the world. That he gave his one and only
son, that whoever believes in him, would not perish, but have
eternal life and there's some of you who are going.
Yeah, I know that verse, I've heard it, I've heard enough
heard it, but listen, there's a big difference, there's a big
difference between knowing a verse and experiencing a verse
Recently this past December December 7th, we had a staff
Christmas party. And one of the staff members,
her husband just bought the new Ford Lightning, all electric And
he's, he said, you want to take it for a drive and I know that
they're fast. I've heard about it, read about
it and he said, you want to take it for a drive.
I was like, do you have insurance?
He's like yeah. Mike well then let's go right
and I think what he was wanting was for me to get out on the
highway before I lit it up but downtown Quincy cars.
Everywhere. Pedestrians Let's go all four
tires. Start, chirpin vision.
Gets blurry. It was special.
There's a big difference between knowing how fast it is and
experiencing how fast it is. I can't talk to you right now
about the beauty of a sous-vide steak you put in that water
bath, you let it cook to the perfect temperature, and then
you just see her for a little bit and you could read about it.
And I mean, I had a person after service that was the decision
that they made for Christ today. As they were going home to buy a
machine to sous vide their steaks.
I mean, God bless them. Okay, it was special month.
That was all they got out of the sermon but you know, we'll take
it and I could talk to How good of a steak that that makes and
you could read about it but there's a difference when I cut
it open and it's just perfect on the inside and you get to taste
it. There's a big difference between
you knowing that verse and experiencing the love of Jesus
in your heart. And the reason why so many of us
are on this mission is we want you to be able to start that and
if you have questions about what that looks like or what it means
to be in relationship with Jesus Christ and just a few moments in
our belts around you stay and you can go right over there, the
bath Street and somebody would love a chance to talk to you
about what that looks like to the rest of you in the room.
Who are already trust in God, with your salvation, you've
already made him your savior. I want you to hear me say this.
He is just as good of a lord. As he is a savior.
If you can trust him as your savior, you can trust him as
your lord. He is just as good of a lord as
he is a savior. And every single one of us needs
to go on this journey of starting to trust him and making
this place the hardest place on planet Earth to get to Hell from
I don't know how to do the invitation time.
Like what do I say? What do I say?
Hey guys, if you're a beer at either.
Did you just come up here to the steps and pray.
There'll be some you back. Oh, we're going forward but
we're going, we ain't sitting this week, okay?
Funs there's some ours at the steps.
Okay? Listen, listen, here's my heart.
Okay. If you really are, if you're a
person who's trusting God with your finances, I am asking you
to come up here, get down on your knees and just pray for
people who are getting ready to take a step that you took a long
time ago, you remember what that stuff was like, I'm also going
to encourage you to pray, come up to the steps to get down on
your knees or maybe if you want, you guys can do.
Do it this for everybody, you can do it back where you're at.
But some of your going man we're getting ready to take a step and
it's a scary stuff and got. I'm gonna need your help and I'm
going to need your strength. Some of you just had a rough
week or you're navigating tough time with your kids and you're
going through a different difficult circumstance in your
marriage. Would you get down on your knees
and pray to the whole purpose of our invitation time is for every
single person to get closer to Jesus.
So, what you do that, would you stand with me?
Heavenly Father You know, what kind of work needs to get done,
you know, what's going on in our hearts?
Got you also know what kind of seeds have been sown in our
hearts and our ears. And God, I pray that you would
deal with those. The God, you would let the birds
take away the seeds that you don't want planted, but God,
that you would protect the ones that you do want plaintiff.
Yeah, that you would help every person in here.
Take a step today. Whether that's on a generosity
Journey with you as their lord or it's as a Salvation Journey
with you as their savior, God move every person closer to you
and your name, I pray. Amen.
Whether that's on a generosity Journey with you as their lord
or it's as a Salvation Journey with you as their savior, God
move every person closer to you and your name, I pray.
Amen.